270 – Converse Marketing; Easton Manor
Peoria Landmark #270
In an application to the National Register of Historic Places from 1974 regarding the West Bluff Historic District, which included Randolph, Moss and High streets, this was written about the property:
Edward S. Easton Residence
1125 West Main
Built ca.1882
Edward Easton was one of Peoria’s wealthiest citizens, active in grain dealing, transportation, and real estate. He took a major role in the organization of the Peoria Board of Trade and served as its president in 1877. The house is now a mortuary.
Architectural and Historical; Significance
Now the home of Converse Marketing, they give this account of the home’s history-
Converse Manor, originally known as Hillcrest Mansion, was built in 1880 by Edward S. Easton and his wife, Sarah, as their primary residence.
Edward Easton made his fortune in the grain distilling business. He and Sarah were prominent, well-known citizens of Peoria who entertained often.
The home was designed by a Swedish architect, and built in the Victorian style with Second Empire elements, most notably the mansard roofline, which extends from the top level of the house to down around the upper-story windows.
The building cost more than $30,000, in an era when most grand homes were constructed for $5,000 to $10,000.
The home incorporates European architectural elements the Eastons admired during their extensive travels abroad, including floor tiles from England, ceiling fresco paintings (which were unfortunately painted over long ago) and delicate adornments using ebony, marble and etched glass.
The original ballroom chandelier now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Presidents Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt are rumored to have been guests here.
In the time since the Eastons called Hillcrest Mansion home, the building changed hands many times and stood empty for decades, falling into a state of disrepair.
In the 1960s, its owners were finally granted permission to raze the building – thankfully a project that would fall through three times.
In 1997, Converse bought the manor and began the process of restoring this local treasure back to its former glory.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Corner of High and Main? Or is that the house you see from I-74?
January 26th, 2009 at 9:06 am
converse marketing isn’t it?
January 28th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I drove by this building today and remembered when it was what I thought was the most beautiful mortuary in Peoria. I have no idea what it was before it was a mortuary. I know I have been to parties there throughout the years and people that worked in this building always had interesting ghost stories.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:46 am
I would enhance your history by adding that the former Endsley Mortuary was purchased by Dan And Vivianne Capps. The Capps initiated the restoration of the Easton Manor and intended to create a bed and breakfast in the house. They were well along in the the process (which incidentally spurred the City of Peoria into creating and adopting a B & B ordinance) when the Converse family dined there and ultimately offered to buy it. Then Converse Marketing completed the work we see today.
April 7th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
My great-grandfather’s wake and funeral occurred in that building in the late 80′s. I find it interesting that the Converse family neglect to mention the many years it was Endsley Mortuary in their history of the building…
March 7th, 2010 at 8:56 am
What a great building, it’s not for sale i think…..
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Yes – Dan and Vivianne did a fabulous job with this home. Dan was my hairdresser for years and I fondly remember his stories of many renovation projects. Just a fascinating person. They put the Easton Manor on the tour of homes at least one time? I can’t remember the name of that tour, but was always in the Fall.